Goa's beach shack owners asked to follow previous plan and open establishments over environment hurdles

This is why wealthy Russians and Indians are travelling to Dubai instead of Goa

During the Thursday meeting, Lobo disclosed that the chief minister issued directives for shack operators to establish structures based on the previously outlined demarcation. Expressing satisfaction, Lobo stated, "We are pleased that the chief minister has instructed us to set up the shacks as we did last year." A senior official from the state tourism department confirmed that a total of 359 beach shacks had been granted licenses through proper procedures.

The delay, as explained by the official, rested with the Environment Department, tasked with evaluating the carrying capacity of beaches and assigning locations for shack owners to establish their businesses.

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CNBCTV18.com had reported in October that in the past, it was the responsibility of the state tourism department to determine the locations for beach shacks. An official was quoted by PTI as saying, "The environment department should have only focused on assessing the beach's carrying capacity, while the tourism department should have overseen the allocation of shacks." He pointed out that the shack owners are reluctant to accept the locations designated by the environment department.

Back then too, Michael Lobo, a BJP MLA, along with beach shack operators, met the chief minister to seek his intervention in the matter.